The situation in Kachin state remains tense after a recent round of shelling directed at the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO)'s armed wing last week by army units stationed in the area. The army fired shells towards KIO positions more than 30 times on February 11th and 12th. The shells were fired from army posts located at Hka Ya Bum, Bum Re Bum and Hpun Pyen Bum near Laiza. According to the KIO's chief spokesperson Lah Nan the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) did not respond to the military's deliberate provocation.